Leaf-turner.



No. 777,786. PATENTED DEC. 20, 1904. P. HOFFMAN, L. A. SPRENGER & J. J.WEBER.

LEAF TURNER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 27. 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

N0. 77'7,786. PATENTED DEC. 20, 1904. F. HOFFMAN, L A. SPRENGER & J. J.WEBER.

LEAF TURNER.

APPLIGATZON FILED FEB. 27. 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 N0 MODEL.

No. 777,786. PATENTED DEC. 20, 1904. P. HOFFMAN, L! A. SPRBNGER & J. J.WEBER.

LEAF TURNER! APPLIOATIOIX FILED FEB. 27, 1904.

3SHBETS-SHEBT 3.

N0 MODEL.

No. 777,786. Patented December 20, 1904.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

FREDERICK HOFFMAN, LOUIS A. SPRENGER, AND JACOB J. WVEBER, OF

' BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

LEAF-TURNER- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 777,786,dated December 20, 1904.

Application filed February 27,1904. Serial No. 195,656.

To crZZ wYw 7175 y 0077/06??? ard is preferably detachably connectedwith 5 Be it known that we, FREDERICK HOFFMAN, the base by means of aplug or head (0, having LOUIsA. SPRENGER,aI1ClJAOOBJ.VVEBER, citianinternal screw-thread which receives the Zens of the United States,residing at Buffalo, lower screw-threaded end of the standard and in thecounty of Erie and State of New York, an external screw-thread whichengages with have invented new and useful Improvements aninternally-threaded opening in the top of in Leaf-Turners, of which thefollowing is a the casing. Within the standard are arrangedspecification. a plurality of nested shafts consisting, pref- Thisinvention relates to a leaf-turner which erably, of an inner or centralsolid shaft C, an

IQ is more particularly designed for turning the intermediate hollowshaft O, surrounding the leaves of sheet-music, but which may alsobecentral shaft, and an outer hollow shaft O employed for turning theleaves of books or surrounding the intermediate shaft and jourothersheets. naled in the standard. The several shafts vary The object ofthis invention is to producea in length, the outermost being theshortest,

5 leaf-turner of simple and durable construction the intermediate shaftsomewhat longer and which permits of turning the leaves quicklyprojecting at its upper and lower ends beyond 5 and conveniently eitherforward or backward the corresponding ends of the outermost shaft,

n and which can be compactly folded for transwhile the inner shaft islongest and projects portation. at its opposite ends beyond the upperand 20 In the accompanying drawings, consisting lower ends of theintermediate shaft. The inof three sheets, Figure 1 is a front elevationner shaft is journaled at its lower end in a 7 of aleaf-turnerembodyingour improvements. bearing in the bottom of the casing, as shownFig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal section in Fig. 2. taken in line 22, Fig. 3, showing the nested At their upper ends the shafts areprovided 2 5 shafts for operating the leaf-shifting bars. with means forsupporting the leaves or sheets Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are vertical sectionsin lines to be turned, and at their lower ends the same 3 3, 4 4, and 55, Fig. 1, respectively. Figs. are provided with an actuating mechanism,

6 and 7 are fragmentary sectional views, on whereby the shafts may beoperated for turnan enlarged scale, showing a shifting-bar in ing theleaves either forward or backward.

0 an operative and an inoperativeposition. Figs. The preferred actuatingmeans for this pur- 8, 9, and 10 are horizontal sections in lines pose(shown in the drawings) is constructed 0 8 8, 9 9, and 10 10, Fig. 1,respectively. Fig. as follows: D l) D represent bevel gear-pin- 11 is atop plan view of our improved leafions secured to the lower ends of theshafts turner. Figs. 12 and 13 are vertical sections within the casing,the pinion D being secured 35 in lines 12 12 and 13 13, Fig. 1, showingthe to the inner shaft adjacent to the bottom of two kinds of clasps'which are employed for the casing and facing upwardly, while theattaching the sheets to the shifting-bars. Figs. pinions D D aresecured, respectively, to the 14 and 15 are fragmentary verticalsections, intermediate and outer shafts adjacent to the on anenlargedscale, in lines 14 14 and 15 15, top of the casing and face downwardly.E

4 Fig. 8, respectively. Figs. 16 and 17 are de- E E representgear-segments which mesh tachedelevationsofthemembersofthebracket withthe pinions D D D and whereby the for adjustably supporting the leafturner. shafts and the parts connected therewith are Fig. 18 is avertical section, on an enlarged operated. The segment E meshes with thescale, in line 18 18, Fig. 1. pinion D and is arranged in the casing onone 45 Similar letters of reference indicate correside of the shafts,and the segments E E mesh sponding parts throughout the several views.with the pinions 1) D respectively, and are A represents a hollow baseor cylindrical arranged in the casing on the opposite side of casing,and B a hollow or tubular standard or the shafts. F represents an arborupon which post mounted on top of the base. The standthe central segmentis journaled, and F an arbor upon which the intermediate and outersegments are journaled. These arbors are horizontally in line betweenthe upper and lower gear-pinions and preferably abut at their inner endsagainst opposite sides of the central shaft, while their outer ends arescrew-threaded and engage with threaded openings in the side walls ofthe casing, as shown in Fig. 2. The hub of the segment E is of suchlength that it fills the space between the central shaft and theadjacent side wall of the casing, while the combined length of the hubsof the segments E E fills the space between the opposite side of thecentral shaft and the adjacent side wall of the casing, therebyconfining the segments in their proper working position withoutrequiring any special means for this purpose. The outer ends of thearbors are preferably provided with slotted headsf', as shown, to permitof turning the same by means of a screw-driver, these heads also servingas stops to limit the inward movement of the arbors. e c 0 represent aseries of narrow keys which project forwardly from the segments E E Ethrough the casing and by which the shafts and connecting parts areturned. These keys are preferably provided at their outer ends withenlargements or fingerpieces 0 which are preferably formed integrallywith the keys and suitably knurled or roughened for convenience inmanipulating the same. In assembling the parts the shafts, with thegear-pinions mounted thereon, are introduced through the top opening ofthe easing, which is normally closed by the plug z, which opening ismade sufficiently large for this purpose. The segments are introducedinto the casing through an opening in the front side thereof. Thisopening is normally closed by a cover G, which is curved to lit thecylindrical form of the casing and fits at its upper edge into atransverse groove 9 in the casing, while its lower end is secured to thecasing by screws 0. The central part of the cover is provided with threecircumferential slots 9, through which the keys of the fingerpiecesproject and in which the same move up and down in shifting the segments.The slots g extend to the upper edge of the cover, so as to permit thesame to be passed over the narrow body of the keys in rear of thefingerpieces after the latter and the segments have been assembled inthe casing.

Each shaft is provided with means for supporting a leaf at its upperedge, which means are preferably constructed as follows: H H H representsleeves mounted one above the other on the upper ends of the shafts G CC, respectively, and each provided with a laterally-projecting arm it. I1 I represent shifting-bars, each of which is connected at its inner endwith one of the arms h by a pivotal joint, which is constructed to holdthe bar either in a horizontal operative position or in This joint avertical inoperative position.

preferably consists of a flangeJ, arranged on the inner front part ofthe arm and adapted to overhang and to embrace the inner end of theshifting-bar, a headed pin 7', arranged on the front side of the arm ata distance from the flange, and an L-shaped slot formed in the inner endof the shifting-bar and receiving the pin said slot consisting of 'along horizontal or main portion 7" and a transverse notch or shortportion 7, extending upwardly from the outer end of the main portion. Inthe operative position of the shifting-bar its inner endextendsunderneath the flange, which forms a shoulder thereon and rests with itsnotch on the pin, as shown in Fig. 6. Vhile the bar is in this positionthe same is held against longitudinal movement relatively to its arm andis in condition for use. When it is desired to fold the bar togetherwith other parts of the leaf-turner for producing a compact parcel whichcan be carried conveniently, the shifting-bar is first raised at itsouter end sufficiently to disengage its notch from the pin, as shown bydotted lines in Fig. 6. The bar is now moved outward lengthwise untilits inner end is withdrawn from underneath the flange, for which purposethe slot extends inwardly a sufficient extent. l V hen this has beendone, the bar is free to be swung downwardly into a pendent positionparallel with the standard, as shown in Fig. 7, thereby reducing thespread of the leaf-turner considerably.

For the sake of improving the appearance of the leaf-turner the severalleaf-shifting bars are arranged to swing in the same plane, which ispreferably accomplished by deflecting the uppermost arm downwardly andthe lowermost arm upwardly into line with the central arm, as shown inFigs. 1 and 2.

On its outer part each of the shifting-bars is provided with apermanently-eonnected leaf clasp or clip K for attaching the outer partof a leaf or sheet to the bar. Although this clasp may be variouslyconstructed, the same comprises, preferably, two levers it" A, which arepivotally connected about midway by a pintle Z2, passing throughsuitable ears on the levers, gri 'iper-jaws Xi, of felt, arranged on theopposing lower ends of the levers, a spring 71:", applied to the pivotand operating to normally press the jaws together, and a strap or loop75, arranged on the rear jaw Z/ and receiving the shifting-bar, as shownin Fig. 13. The leaf to be turned is gripped between the jaws if, whichlatter are separated to permit of placing the leaf between them by firstpress ing together the upper ends of the levers in a manner common tothis type of clasps. By sliding the clasp lengthwise on the shiftingbarthe same may be adjusted to suit leaves of difi'erent widths. In orderto confine the clasp K on the outer part of the shifting-bar and preventremoval of the clasp therefrom, the bar is provided with outer and innerstops ISO Z Z, arranged on opposite sides of the clasp. The outer stop Zis formed by bending up the outer end of the bar, as shown in Fig.1,while the inner stop Z is formed by forming a short lateral bend ordeflection in the central part of the bar, as shown in Fig. 11.

When the leaf-turner is employed for turning sheet-music which iscomposed wholly of folios, it is only necessary to attach the sheets atthe top near their outer ends to the shifterbars by means of the claspsK for turning the leaves; but when the book or piece of music containssingle leaves which are free at the outer and inner edges it isnecessary to 'attach the same at its inner end to the shifting-bar inaddition to being attached thereto at its outer end. For this purposedetachable auxiliary leaf clasps or clips K are employed, which areconstructed like the outer clasps K, with the exception that a dependinghook 7&6 is substituted for the loop Zr", as shown in Figs. 1 and 12.hen an auxiliary clasp is required, its hook is sprung over the innerpart of the shifting-bar, between the inner stop and the hinge thereof,and the top edge of the sheet or leaf is gripped near its inner end bythe auxiliary clasp. By this means either folios or detached individualleaves can be turned by this apparatus with equal facility. When thebook or piece of music has no loose or single leaves, the auxiliaryclasps may be removed.

The body of the book or leaves of sheetmusic are supported from thestandard by a rack, which is preferably constructed as follows: M Mrepresent the upper and lower horizontal bars of the rack, and N N thevertical rails thereof. Each of the horizontal bars is preferably soconstructed and connected with the standard that the same can bedetached from the standard and folded compactly. For this purpose eachhorizontal bar is divided centrally into two sections mm, and theirinner ends are provided with opposing clamping jaws O O, which engageagainst opposite sides of the standard. The jaws are permanentlyconnected in rear of the standard by a vertical pintle 0, while theirfront ends are detachably connected by a horizontal coupling-bolt P,which is seated at one end in a circular perforation or opening 3) inone clamping-jaw, while its opposite end is seated in a slot p in thecompanion jaw. The bolt is provided at one end with an enlarged head orhandle 1)", which bears against the outer side of the jaw having theopening p, and its opposite end is provided with a laterally-projectinglug 19 which bears against the outer side of the jaw having the slot. Inassembling the parts the members of each rackbar are first straightenedand their jaws engaged with opposite sides of the standard.

The bolt is next passed, with its lug, through the slotted jaw and thenturned, so that the lug is out of register with the slot and bearsagainst the outer side of the slotted lug on one side of its slot,thereby attaching the rackbar in an unfolded condition to the standard.In order to insure a firm grip of the clamping-jaws on the standard, theouter side of the slotted jaw is provided around its slot with a spiralincline or cam-face with which the lug engages upon being turned, asshown in Figs. 1, 3, and 8, and whereby the jaws are drawn together forsecurely fastening the same and the parts connected therewith on thestandard. Upon turning the bolt backwardl y until its lug is in linewith the slot of the adjacent jaw the two jaws can be separated and themembers of the bar can be detached from the standard and folded. Eachmember or section of the lower rack-bar is preferably L- shaped, so asto form a horizontal shelf m for supporting the leaves at theirloweredges and a vertical back m, which prevents the leaves from slidingbackwardly off the shelf. The members or sections of the upper rackbarare plain and merely serve as a back-support for the books or leaves.

A pair of vertical rails N N is arranged on each side of the standardand connect the inner and outer parts of the horizontal rackbar memberson the same side of the standard. Each of the rack-rails is preferablypivoted by a pin 01. or otherwise to an upper rackbar section. The lowerend of each inner rail N projects downwardly through a longitudinal slotR in the inner part of the shelf of a lower rack-bar and is providedwith a shoulder or crosspin 0', which bears against the top of the shelfon opposite sides of the slot, as shown in Figs. 1, 1, and 9. The outerrail N projects downwardly through a longitudinal slot in the outer partof the shelf and is provided with a shoulder or laterally-projecting lips at its lower end, which bears against the under side of the shelf, asshown in Figs. 1, 5, and 9. The outer slots 8 extend to the outer end ofthe lower bar-sections, so as to permit of freely swinging the outerrails into and out'of said slots. In assembling the parts of the rackthe lower rack-bar is first applied to the standard immediately abovethe gearcasing, the lower ends of the rails are engaged with the lowerrack-bar, and the upper rack-bar is then clamped to the standard. Bythus causing the shoulders of the outer rails to bear against the underside of the lower bar and the shoulders of the inner rails to bearagainst the upper side thereof a substantial connection is producedbetween the lower bar and the rails, whereby the same are firmly heldagainst vertical displacement relatively to each other, while at thesame time permitting of readily adjusting the same or dismantling thesame for packing. \Vhen it is desired to adapt the rack for a book orfor sheet-music which is shorter than usual, the shelf may be raisedsufficiently so as to support the book or sheets with their upper edgesioo within reach of the clasps. When the shelf is thus raised, the sameslides on the lower ends of the rails and the latter project with theirinoperative portions below the shelf. Inasmuch as the lips of the outerrails are arranged below the shelf they offer no obstruction to theupward movement of the shelf. The cross-pins at the lower ends of theinner rails would, however, prevent the shelf from rising when they arein their normal position above the shelf. For the purpose of permittingthe shelf to be raised the outer ends of the slots R are provided withenlargements w of sufficient width to permit the passage of the pins 0'.Preparatory to raising the shelf the inner rails are swung outwardly attheir lower ends until their pins are in line with the enlargements rof'the slots. Upon now raising the shelf the pins 1' pass through theenlargements, and thereafter the lower ends of the inner rails may beagain swung inwardly, so that their cross-pins are underneath the shelf.

If desired, both the upper and lower hori- Zontal bars of the rack maybe adjusted verticall y on the standard to suit different heights ofbooks or sheets. In folding the upper horizontal bar of the rack therails are turned on their pivots so that they are parallel with the barsand form a more compact parcel.

The leaf-turner may be supported in any suitable manner, but preferablyby the means shown in the drawings, which are constructed as follows: Trepresents a jointed bracket composed of two links or members 2. t,which are pivotally connected by a horizontal clamping-bolt t The frontlink tis provided with a downwardlytapering dovetail socket a, whichreceives a correspondingly-shaped lug a on the rear side of thegear-casing. The rear link 2." is provided on its rear end with adownwardly-tapering wedge or dovetail lug e, which fits into-a similarstationary socket v, secured to the front of apiano, organ, or othersuitable support V. By turning the front link on the rear link theleaf-turner may be adjusted so as to incline at different angles to suitthe person using the same. For the purpose of more securely holding thelinks in their relatively adjusted position the opposing annular facesaround the clampingbolt t are provided with cooperating teeth w, asshown in Figs. 8, 16, and 17.

Instead of making the leaf-turner adjustable as to inclination the samemay be held rigid, in which case the bracket-links are dispensed withand the dovetail lug of the gearcasing may be engaged directly with thestationary socket o. The lug on the gear-easing is provided with avertical opening w, which is intended to receive a vertical pin at theupper end of a portable music-stand or similar support.

In the use of this leaf-turner the leaves while resting on the rack areattached individually at their upper edges by means of the elasps to theseveral shifting-bars, which latter are then all turned backward so thatthe front page faces forward, in which position of the shifting-bars thefinger-pieces and the keys (3 e all project upwardly. Then the firstpage of the book or piece of music has been read, the first linger-pieceand keya are depressed, thereby causing the first shifterbar I to swingfrom right to left and turn the first leaf. This operation is repeatedfor each of the succeeding leaves, the second leaf being turnedforwardly upon depressing the second key a, and the third leaf beingturned upon depressing the third key (1 If it is necessary to repeat anyof the music or reading matter, any one or all of the leaves can bereversed or turned back from left to right by raising the keyscontrolling the particular leaves.

Then it is desired to transport the leafturner, the same can be readilydismembered and folded compactly in the manner previously described withreference to the several parts of the leaf-turner.

Our improved leaf-turner contains but few parts, is not liable to getout of order, and is neat in appearance, rendering the same wellsuitedfor permanent attachment to pianos or other musical instruments.

We claim as our invention 1. A leaf-turner comprisingahollow standard, aplurality of nested shafts arranged in said standard and each projectingat its ends beyond the ends of the shaft surrounding the same, means forattaching leaves to the upper ends of said shafts, an upwardly-facingpinion secured to the central shaft, downwardly-facing pinions securedto the other shafts, and segments meshing with said pinions,substantially as set forth.

2. A leaf-turner comprising a casing having an opening in its top,a plugfittingin said opening, a hollow standard fitting in said plug, a shaftjournaled in said standard, means for connecting a leaf with the upperend of said shaft, a pinion secured to the lower end of said shaft andconstructed to pass through said opening, and a segment meshing withsaid pinion, substantially as set forth.

3. Aleaf-turnercomprisinga :asing, a hollow standard mounted on thecasing, a plurality of nested shafts arranged in the standard thecentral one of which extends to the bottom of the casing while theothers terminate near the top of the casing, means for connecting leaveswith the upper ends of said shafts, a pinion secured to the centralshaft at the bottom of the casing, pinions secured to the other shaftsat the top of the casing, arbors arranged on the casing on oppositesides of the central shaft, a segment mounted on one of said arbors andmeshing with the IIO lower pinion, and segments mounted on the otherarbor and meshing with the upper pinions, substantially as set forth.

4. A leaf-turner comprising a casing, ahollow standard mounted on thecasing, a plurality of nested shafts arranged in the standard thecentral one of which extends to the bottom of the casing while theothers terminate near the top of the casing, means for connecting leaveswith the upper ends of said shafts, a pinion secured to the centralshaft at the bottom of the casing, pinions secured to the other shaftsat the top of the casing, arbors arranged on opposite sides of thecentral shaft and each having a screw connection at its outer end withthe adjacent wall of the casing, a segment mounted on one of the arborsand meshing with the lower pinion, and

segments mounted on the other arbor and meshing with the upper pinions,substantially as set forth.

5. A leaf-turner comprising a casing having an openingin its front side,a hollow standard mounted on the casing, a plurality of nested shaftsarranged in the standard, means for connecting leaves with the upperends of said shafts, pinions secured to the lower ends of said shaftswithin the casing, segments meshing with said pinions, keys connectedwith said segments and projecting outwardly through the opening in thecasing, and acover for said opening provided with slots which receivethe keys, substantially as set forth.

6. A leaf-turner comprising a cylindrical casing having an opening inits front side and a transverse groove at one end of said opening, ahollow standard mounted on the casing, a plurality of nested shaftsarranged in the standard, means for connecting leaves with the upperends of said shafts, pinions connected with the lower ends of saidshafts within the casing, segments journaled in the casing and meshingwith the pinions, keys connected with the segments and projectingoutwardly through said opening,finger-pieces or enlargements at theouter ends of said keys, a curved cover for closing said opening havingslots which receive said keys and seated at one end in said groove, anda fastening for connecting the opposite end of the cover with thecasing, substantially as set forth.

7. A leaf-turner comprising a vertical shaft, a horizontal shifting-armconnected at its inner end with the shaft and provided at its outer endand at its central part with stops, and a leaf-clasp provided witha loopmounted on said bar between said stops, substantially as set forth.

8. A leaf-turner comprising a vertical shaft, a horizontal shifting-armconnected at its inner end with the shaft and provided at its outer endwith an upturned stop and at its central part with a laterally-deflectedstop, and a leaf-clasp provided with a loop mounted on the bar betweenits stops, substantially as set forth.

9. A leaf-turner comprising a vertical shaft, a horizontal shifting-armconnected at its inner end with the shaft, an outer leaf-clasppermanently attached to the outer part of said bar, and an innerleaf-clasp detachably connected with theinner part of said bar,substantially as set forth.

10. A leaf-turner comprising a vertical shaft, a horizontal shifting-armconnected at its inner end with the shaft, an outer leafclasp providedwith a loop which receives the outer part of said bar, and aninnerleaf-clasp provided with a hook engaging with the inner part of saidbar, substantially as set forth.

itness our hands this 25th day of February, 1904c.

FREDERICK HOFFMAN. LOUIS A. SPRENGER. JACOB J. XVEBER. XVitnesses:

TI-IEO. L. Porr, JosurnINE YVEBER.

